‘An honour to serve’: Akeeagok thanks staff, family in legislature
Premier tables final report on progress of government’s mandate
Premier P.J. Akeeagok embraces his wife, Parniga Akeeagok, in the Nunavut legislative assembly Wednesday. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
With the Nunavut legislative assembly’s sitting nearing its end, Premier P.J. Akeeagok thanked his staff, the territory’s public servants and his family for their support over the past four years while noting his government didn’t accomplish everything he wanted it to.
“While no government ever completes the work, together we showed what is possible when we act in unity, grounded in our values and committed to our people,” Akeeagok said in his minister’s statement Wednesday.
“It has been an honour to serve Nunavummiut through this assembly. To our partners, to our communities, and to our families, I say qujannamiik [thank you].”
Akeeagok, who is preparing to leave office after announcing he won’t seek a second term as an MLA in the Oct. 27 territorial election, provided an overview of what he described as the major highlights of the government MLAs picked him to lead in 2021.
On education and childcare, Akeeagok spoke of rolling out $10-a-day daycare in 2022, three years earlier than planned; and the launch of full-day kindergarten in the territory in 2023.
On elder care, he touted the opening of the new long-term care centre in Rankin Inlet.
The government started “the single-largest housing expansion in Nunavut’s history” with Nunavut 3000, announced in 2022, he said.
Akeeagok also spoke of Nunavut’s growth on the national stage with the signing of the Nunavut Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement in early 2024, and its partnership with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. in joining forces on the issue of Arctic sovereignty.
Later Wednesday, Akeeagok’s office released a 102-page report further detailing the government’s work.
“The foundation we have built is strong, and the path ahead is clear: one rooted in Inuit values and one that we will continue to walk together side by side for Nunavut,” Akeeagok said.
Akeeagok rose again Wednesday afternoon to thank his family for their support over the past four years — in particular, his three children.
With his wife Parniga and one of their sons, Ryan, in the gallery, he said they stood by him through many late nights and missed hunting trips.
“You understood the weight of this very important role and stood by me with maturity beyond your years,” Akeeagok said of his kids.
“Your quiet strength gave me the clarity that I needed when we went through some very difficult moments as well.”
The legislature sits for the final time Thursday before the territorial election. Other MLAs have also offered their thanks to staff and announced their re-election plans.
“In a kind of a messed-up kind of way,” Health Minister John Main said, “we are a kind of family.”
More photos and travel to come until November’s’ leadership.
I am pretty sure you will make great Premiere this fall.
can you list your accomplishments compared to PJ. So we can compare and install you as Premiere
This government started with drunken cabinet minister who didn’t learned his lesson . It started domino effect with resignation to other ministers for odd reasons also One of the minister hired his wife to head of HR just few days later he lost his cabinet position! Bullies of other ministers didn’t like this premier. This has been most outrageous photo ops and TV time, Slowest response to housing crisis alienated most of western area of Nunavut only focusing towards Baffin / Kivalliq regions. foreigners / Southerners are destroying the reputation of NLCA hiring Inuit system. Inuit Youth and young people are getting left out because lowest education in the nation
A true leader , best premier of Nunavut ! I feel
For those MLAs who tried to oust him out last Premier don’t get elected again.
To all the keyboard warriors and haters. Four years from now youll all be saying I wish PJ was still Premier. Mark my words.
No one is going to wish Photo Op PJ is still the Premier 4 years from now. Mark my words fellow keyboard warrior
He did his best against the embittered former Ministers of the last government. I’m sure Savikataaq and Hickes already have deals cut for the next vote, they won’t make that mistake twice.
Consensus government is party politics behind closed doors.
He tried his best, But another case of Inuit tearing down Inuit, another young Tuktu to the slaughter by the old. Wolves
Let’s face it. His curtain call was indicative of his 4 years. He finished off question period on Wednesday by propagating the same half-truths, using deflections and making more misleading statements. This has been his modus operandi his whole term. So, there he was, even with resounding evidence of his mismanagement of the Elders buses, the health crisis and the housing fiasco he still failed to recognize, regardless of all the information that is now available to the public, that he and his “consensus” government dropped the ball. He was standing up there defending nonfunctional million-dollar buses, saying it’s a “logistical issue” when he authorized (without Legislative approval) a million-dollar purchase with no operational plan in place. He was claiming 1000 new public housing units were built under his tenure and the NU 3000. He was claiming that 2000 more were under construction. When in fact the OAG Report (which he admitted to never reading) says in fact it is 18 new homes related to the NU 3000 and about another 212 that come from the previous administration (the plan implemented a year before he became Premier). And every Nunavummiut knows there are NOT 2000 more homes “under construction” in this NU 3000 project.
You see folks, it’s about facing the fact that this Premier and his Cabinet, failed the people of Nunavut. It is not about if he is a nice man. He seems like a nice man. It is not about good intentions. Or trying hard. One can only hope his intentions were good, and he must have been trying hard. All that does not matter. What matters, is the impact he was supposed to have on changing and improving Nunavummiut’s lives. In this area, he failed miserably. He talked a great talk, took a great photo, travelled extensively to everywhere (especially outside of Nunavut) but not much to the communities (unless there was a photo-op). He waved lots of quasi agreements, MOU’s, documents, plans, etc… for everyone to see but in the end when all the dust settled he failed where it counts most. The health crisis is still upon us, there are no homes when there are supposed to be homes, children are failing out of the school system, food insecurities abound….and those famous buses are no closer to carrying our Elders.
The “Peter Principle” applies appropriately to this Premier. It applies equally as well to most Cabinet members and MLA’s. The last 4 years also demonstrates to Nunavummiut that after twenty-five years there needs to be a review, debate and restructuring of the “consensus” government model. It is unacceptable for failures to simply be ignored or brushed aside, and not to be addressed and resolved. More importantly, ensuring that those who failed are held accountable. Nunavut cannot and will not progress in impactful terms in improved health care, education, housing, justice, etc, etc.. as long as the politicians basically give each other a pass in the name of “consensus” at the cost of definitive, measurable results. We all saw this, in this last sitting where the Premier, Cabinet members, and MLA’s spent inordinate amounts of time back slapping each other in congratulatory voices for what they perceive as their successes that were not successes. This is what “consensus” government gets Nunavummiut. This is what we all must face.
The upcoming Election is October 27th. Inform yourselves, demand straight answers from candidates on the subjects that concern you the most. Remember this though. Every one of those current MLA’s has been complicit in this government’s failures. So, think wisely when considering a vote for any of them. Now make sure you get out and vote. Talk to your family and friends about the importance of voting…. then go out and vote. It is the only way to bring about change.
With biggest vision he carried from the beginning to the end, he chose not to run again? He was the king of making moments go viral through his photo ops. His vision outpaced his entrance.
P for the pic and J for the joke. Last one will be the one we never know.
He made a two-term vision in 2022 – to see 3,000 houses built by 2030. Now he’s not even running to see it through? I guess he can step aside and when there are not 3,000 new houses by 2030, he can just say, “I set them on the right path and gave them all the tools they needed”, without taking the blame.
This previous government has develop a backward system controlled by its executive directors to deputy ministers. Flawed system to under budget infrastructure funds to hiring of unqualified staffing teachers without any qualifications to closing down of homecare that created employments & socio-economic training of 35 jobs from part time to fulltime Care. Just closed down without merit! This previous government raises issues at all levels!
We don’t need to hear he is leaving every other day. K Byyyeee.
There is no need for us to be informed about his personal life; this display of affection should have taken place in a private setting. However, it seemed essential to invite his wife and the people of Niaqunnguuq. Indeed, he is an articulate individual, a pleasant person, and a talented actor. Notably, he repeatedly acknowledged the same people for their exceptional work, on at least three or four occasions. The new MLAs and premier will now conduct the affairs of state in a normal and efficient manner. They will prioritize substantive issues, avoiding pre-tenses and the repetitive praise of the same individuals. Last but not least, no more photo opportunities as well travel the world.
Thank you PJ for your service and I wish you and your family all the best in your continued endeavours! Life can be unforgiving but to quote someone: “…it is like a pendulum going from light to dark and the brighter the light has shone the darker the shadow it casts. It is an eternal dance and the more you struggle the harder that dance, the more you criticize your steps the harder it becomes but as you get older you learn to relax and that dance becomes easier.” Your best days are yet to come.